I love these end of the year opportunities to post some pictures that didn’t quite make the cut or didn’t quite fit in to our challenges. This year was no photography year for me – not much traveling either – rather a painting year. But here they are, my last chances!
The opener/header shows a Madeira interior from one of our hikes in June. There were fewer traveling days than usual this year, let’s see what the new year has in store for us.
Little ones – Vedema frog and babies. A favourite day out in April.
My garden in flower. A moss lover I am, a tiny worlds lover. I found these photos in a folder from August 2025. They were untouched – so, a perfect fit!
I will end with a frosty Autumn picture from the lake and the last one from my forest, when the beeches were already fading. I love that colour though, and miss it now when all leaves are gone and everything is grey and dull.
We want to announce that this is our last post of the year as Lens-Artists will be taking the final 2 weeks of December off and will return on January 3.
THANK YOU for all your Holiday Fun posts! Now it is time for the 2025 fun too! Thank you all for making this year, 2025, brighter and more hopeful – I believe that is one of the best reasons to keep a blog, to connect and communicate. For me, it’s a vital source to constantly revive faith in mankind. So, until we see you again – stay safe, be kind and enjoy the Holiday Season.
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate, and may the New Year be Happy and Healthy for us all!
An early wake up again on the train – the last part before Lhasa. The Tanggula pass is more than 5000 meters above sea level, but we were well taken care of with oxygen in our compartments.
The Tibetan Plateau is breathtakingly beautiful – I still have tears in my eyes when I look at the old photos-
– and again we were glued to the window. The whole journey is almost 2000 kilometers and today it takes some 40-45 hours. I guess hour train ride took a bit longer 16 years ago.
We passed by majestic rivers, lakes, mountains in every kind of weather – but I think above all we loved the magical cloudscapes over the vast open spaces.
I remember we didn’t sleep much…as we didn’t want to leave the magic outside that train window. In fact we were earlier up than ever. We rose with the first light shining in.
The colours were beautifully contrasting between warm and cold, and the numerous jaks and sheep were grazing everywhere. We also saw a wolf, but weren’t quick enough to photograph it.
The clouds created a moving palette on the ground – with shadows and light playing. Sometimes we felt the clouds were sailing so low we could have touched them had we been able to get off the train for a minute!
As we approached Lhasa, we came closer to the mountains and the valleys –
which we hadn’t done before. There were some people too out there – but very few and not easily spotted. If you can see them, they speak of the vastness and grandeur of the landscape.
Time stood still during the train ride, so we couldn’t imagine we would soon be there – at our final destination Lhasa, Tibet. A destination longed for since I was a child, but I never could have dreamed of such an amazing journey to get there!
A couple of minutes left, and then – a new adventure would unfold. Tibet. We were sad to leave the Plateau behind, because we knew we would fly back to Beijing in a couple of weeks, never to see it again.
Thank you for taking the Quinghai train with me – at least a bit easier than staying glued to a train window!
When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
― Ansel Adams
Egidio is our silent guide this week, and silence is one of our most precious gifts in life. Please visit Egidio’s inspirational site to learn more about the challenge and American photographer Robert Adams’ use of silence in photography.
Trees, forests and water are my main sources for portraying silence. And as always, Light. My favourite places to go for complete silence – only allow the sound of wind, water or bird song.
Silence is a source of great strength.
– Lao Tzu
In silence there is eloquence.
– Rumi
Let silence take you to the core of life.
– Rumi
Silence speaks louder than words.
– Thomas Carlyle
Silence is not the absence of sound but the presence of a deeper meaning.
– Unknown
Silence is a true art; it teaches us to speak without words.
– Unknown
A massive thank you to Ritva for last week’s challenge based on Leonard Cohen’s poem. I loved the variety of responses to this creative challenge. We hope you will join us again, and remember to link back to Egídio’s original post with the Lens-Artists tag, so we can find you in the WP reader.
Next week it’s Patti’s turn, Saturday 9th November. Patti’s challenge will be In the Details, as she asks us to choose a subject (a statue, a person, a place, street art, etc.) and take a series of photos ot it. Getting closer and closer to the subject, focusing on a particular detail(s). We can vary our shots by changing perspective or angle of shooting – or even lens. Post three photos of the subject, but feel free to shoot another series on a second subject.
This bust in Kokura Castle intrigued me. The man’s name was not possible to read, neither was the artist’s name. They were only written in Japanese, and there was nobody to ask about it.
I walked past him several times, as he was standing (if a bust can stand?) close to the entrance gate. Each time I felt someone was watching me. It was something with his eyes.
I know about (and have seen such paintings) Renaissance painters who could paint eyes that seemingly followed you, but sculptures? They say it is about how the iris is placed against the white part of the eye. Anyhow, he was creepy. And in my picture, the surrounding photographic blur mirrors the look in his eyes.
What are your thoughts? Have you experienced something similar? Has someone got a further explanation to the phenomenon?
Magical – I wonder…what is magical to you? According to Wikipedia, Magical can mean: ”…beautiful or delightful in a way that seems removed from everyday life. ” I think that is the most common use. At least for us grown-ups. But there are of course other meanings too.
First of all, I guess we all need some magic in our lives, don’t we? Especially in difficult times like these. I try to find magical moments every day, and one of them is acorns sprouting new life, new little oak trees – in my kitchen. I enjoy looking at them growing every day.
Being alive and observing the living things on this blue planet gives my life all the magic I need. Nature has it all. I just have to walk out the door and open my senses.
Nature’s seasons are magical to me. This image shows fading Autumn by the river – and Mother Nature spreading her fairy dust in the most extraordinary ways. I cannot imagine living in a world without seasons, but unfortunately climate change is working on reducing our four seasons into two.
Often in fairytales and fantasy literature we find magical things in another sense – like roads, bridges and doors that open up to new landscapes, other worlds. We don’t really know what it will feel like or look like, or what will happen to us when we have passed the entrance. But we love that feeling of uncertainty and excitement.
Even if we know the facts, how ice is built and why – it is still magical every time the ”feathers” appear on my glasshouse or on the car.
And Spanish moss – it is fascinating to hide inside living curtains. And what child does not love to build a simple cabin in the forest? Or under the kitchen table! I still remember that magic – and I am now fully allowed to experience it again with my grandchild… We have great fun together.
Some of us feel that mystical, or maybe supernatural, is what we think of when we hear ”magical”. A dark tree with one natural lantern and one manmade. Magical, mystical, or even a bit scary?
Clearly light and darkness are strongly connected to what we consider ”magical”. But, that doesn’t mean it has to be dark – it can be soft and misty, with dew drops and colours too.
If natural magic is not enough for you, or if you like to play around with your images – Lightroom and Photoshop, Topaz, or other software programs, can turn your photo into a painting, soften it into a dream or use presets for different colour combinations. There are an abundance of possibilities. And it is fun! Magical transformations in one single click – or two. Not many years ago this was only imagination.
My final example is from this festive time of the year – the Holiday Season. Many magical wonders in the world of my little granddaughter. I believe we should try to keep that feeling alive. Let them be fascinated and filled with awe. Let their eyes glow. Let them be children. They will grow up soon enough. And we who have grown up into this tough world, would feel better with something of that magic lingering in our eyes.
Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.
– Albert Einstein
Now, Magical might mean so many different things to us, so – What is Magical to you? Special people, places, things; nature, adventures, childhood memories… – what are the ingredients you want there to make it magical? This week we are looking forward to seeing some of Your magic! Please link to my original post and use the Lens-Artists tag so we can find you in the reader.
A big thank you to Amy for last week’s Unique – an intriguing challenge that brought us fantastic and unique experiences! Much to ponder and much to learn.
Keep well until next Saturday, when Tina will be our host again. Be sure to visit her beautiful site for more inspiration!
Fragments...yes, our lives are, the world is. Brian of Bushboy is our guest host this week, and he says: ”What has been happening recently is a bit of fragmentation around the world, a disconnect. But we always have been made up of pieces. What I would like to see is some of your fragments.”
I am late to the party, because my life right now is more than fragmentary, sometimes I feel I am dissolving totally. But once again I will try to scramble up the pieces of my self and act like a whole person.
Some thoughts of fragments from me on a warm summer’s day, sitting in my garden.
Fragments of lives lost, going down with the Titanic.
I love using fragments in my photography, it makes us look at the image with open senses, using our fantasy. Drawing our own conclusions, making pictures in our minds.
Not showing the whole picture, the whole background or the whole subject is beautiful and suggestive. I wish that would be used in clothing and model photography as well.
Fragments…can make poetry
Fragments talk to our senses. Early summer of wild orchids in evening light make my heart sing. What fragments make your heart sing?
Fragments put together make a clearer picture of what is happening. Like the words and chapters of a book. Or the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
A fragment of the facade is gone…but a butterfly made it ”whole” again – gave it a new meaning. One of life’s little wonders.
Fragments of beauty is still there while we are ageing…
Fragments of Love. A great deal of my time now goes to fitting together the fragments of my father’s life. Through photos, letters and talks with his only remaining sister. I kept some of his things to feel closer to him. Photos, his accordion, a shirt, his books, paintings… What are we humans – only fragments of life on earth, life in space, life in the universe.
But it is a good thing to think of our lives as tiny and insignificant. We tend to take ourselves too seriously.
Many thanks to Brian for this thoughtful challenge, and to Donna and her lovely “Bugs” challenge last week. Next week Tina will be hosting LAPC. So, look out for her exciting challenge!
Alone time means time spent by an individual or a couple apart from others. It is often used to ground oneself, or to do something creative.
In the northern countries we are known for this need of alone time – but I strongly believe we all need it. We just have to watch for the signs… even if they are not always easily recognized. You might for example need some time away from other people when you are feeling short-tempered or getting easily irritated by minor things; feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated; having trouble concentrating or getting anxious about spending time with other people.
My own reasons for needing alone time originates from being an only child, and growing up close to the forests and fields – Nature holds all the beauty I need in life, and I have been given the gift to see and to listen, and to rejoice in it. I am very grateful.
Grounding yourself is when you stay connected to the present. Instead of getting lost in anxiety and reviewing a made-up version of reality in your head, grounding allows you to experience the moment you are in. It requires being connected to yourself and provides stability and calm even in challenging situations.
Nature is an unequalled source to pour from – turn off social media, open your windows and let your eyes and mind wander with you on the path you choose. Personally, my favourite path is the one with grass in the middle…just like my childhood paths.
I feel better when I am surrounded, not by humans, but by trees.
― Michael Bassey Johnson
For many of us books and reading fill this alone time well. Reading gives us the possibility to wander into other worlds, while sitting comfortably in our own chair.
For me, photography, writing and sketching works well too, and so does painting.
I know that I need serious alone time to be able to function. For this purpose, I finally realised an old dream – A Room of My Own.
We need solitude, because when we’re alone, we’re free from obligations, we don’t need to put on a show, and we can hear our own thoughts.
― Tamim Ansary
Finding time to be alone can have a number of key benefits. Some of these include personal exploration, creativity and social energy. If you are not used to spend time alone, plan that time into your schedule and make sure that other people know that they shouldn’t interrupt you during that time. It might be helpful too if you plan out what you want to do –
This week in February, every year, I want my husband to travel for some days, so that I can replant my houseplants, alone. I can plan it as I want to, I can emerge myself in facts on the different species…
…and end up with revived plants and cuttings en masse – cheers to new life!
This year I also bought some airplants – they need no soil, just a piece of bark, some Spanish moss, and some sprinkling of water. At the same time I get the joy of creating interesting new arrangements.
New projects are always around the corner, but, I also try hard to just BE. Do nothing. Exist here and now. This is difficult. I wonder – do you manage it? Some good advice would be much appreciated.
Blessed are those who do not fear solitude, who are not afraid of their own company, who are not always desperately looking for something to do, something to amuse themselves with, something to judge.
~ Paulo Coelho
When I am completely by myself, entirely alone or during the night when I cannot sleep, it is on such occasions that my ideas flow best and most abundantly. Whence and how these ideas come I know not nor can I force them.
~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
A Special thank you to Bren for her soft and magical challenge last week! We learned new things and new experiences make us grow. Now we are looking forward to seeing your Alone Time posts. What are your thoughts, and what do you use your alone time for? Be sure to tag Lens-Artists and link to my original post.
I have been made aware of pingbacks not working, so please, send your link in the comment section! It seems the reason it’s not working might originate in the change to JetPack on my phone.
Next week, Tina will be hosting, and her theme will be – Finding Peace. Please visit her beautiful site for inspiration.
Leya 
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